Cost of Living Comparison
Quality of Life

Indiana vs Minnesota: Cost of Living

Indiana is cheaper overall by 8.2 cost-of-living points, but Indiana has lower median home values.

Indiana flag
Indiana
IN • Midwest
Winner
91.3
Composite cost of living index (100 = national average). Lower = more affordable.
Minnesota flag
Minnesota
MN • Midwest
99.5
Composite cost of living index (100 = national average). Lower = more affordable.

Visual Comparison

Indiana 91.3
Minnesota 99.5

Difference: 8.2 points — Indiana leads.

National Rankings

Where They Rank Nationally

See where both states fall among all 50 states for cost of living.

Indiana #11 · 91.3
Minnesota #24 · 99.5
Best Worst

10 Best States — Cost of Living

Lower is better
#1 West Virginia flag West Virginia
83.6
#2 Mississippi flag Mississippi
85.5
#3 Arkansas flag Arkansas
87.6
#4 Kentucky flag Kentucky
88.0
#5 Alabama flag Alabama
88.6
#6 Oklahoma flag Oklahoma
88.6
#7 Missouri flag Missouri
90.0
#8 Kansas flag Kansas
90.2
#9 Iowa flag Iowa
91.0
#10 Ohio flag Ohio
91.0
Selected states
#11 Indiana flag Indiana
91.3
#24 Minnesota flag Minnesota
99.5

Indiana ranks 11th and Minnesota ranks 24th nationally for cost of living.

Overview

A fast-reading view of the tradeoffs behind the raw cost numbers.

Living Costs
Overall

Indiana feels cheaper overall

Indiana has the lower cost-of-living index, beating Minnesota by 8.2 points on the overall affordability baseline.

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Housing

pay about 1.5x more for a home

Indiana has the lower median home value, while buying in Minnesota costs materially more at the median.

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Rent Pressure

Minnesota puts less pressure on a median paycheck

Median rent takes a smaller share of household income in Minnesota than in Indiana, which makes monthly budgeting easier.

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Taxes

Indiana keeps more income after state tax

Indiana has the lower top state income tax rate, which softens the total cost picture even when prices are close.

View detailed comparison

Cost Stack

Indiana
Overall Affordability
Cost of living index
91.3
Regional price parity
89.9
Regular gas price
$3.905/gal
Electricity price
16.19 c/kWh
Housing
Median gross rent
$1,001/mo
Median home value
$201,800
Owner costs with mortgage
-
Owner costs without mortgage
-
Taxes
State income tax
3.15%
State sales tax
7.00%
Property tax
0.74%
Income
Median household income
$67,173
Income after median rent
$4,597
Minimum wage
$7.25/hr
Laws
Gun laws
Permissive
Alcohol system
License State
Marijuana status
Medical
Minnesota
Overall Affordability
Cost of living index
99.5
Regional price parity
95.5
Regular gas price
$3.572/gal
Electricity price
14.98 c/kWh
Housing
Median gross rent
$1,163/mo
Median home value
$293,200
Owner costs with mortgage
-
Owner costs without mortgage
-
Taxes
State income tax
9.85%
State sales tax
6.88%
Property tax
1.02%
Income
Median household income
$84,313
Income after median rent
$5,863
Minimum wage
$10.85/hr
Laws
Gun laws
Restrictive
Alcohol system
License State
Marijuana status
Legal

What Stands Out

  • Indiana has lower median home values.
  • Indiana has the lower overall cost index.
  • Minnesota has the higher median household income.
  • Indiana looks more attainable on home value to income ratio.

What This Means

Indiana vs Minnesota: Cost of Living in context

Indiana has a cost of living of 91.3, compared with 99.5 in Minnesota. Composite cost of living index (100 = national average). Lower = more affordable.

Indiana
91.3
Minnesota
99.5
Difference
8.2 points

People Also Ask

Indiana vs Minnesota Cost of Living — Common Questions

Q What is Indiana's cost of living?

Indiana's cost of living is 91.3.

Q What is Minnesota's cost of living?

Minnesota's cost of living is 99.5.

Q Which state has a lower cost of living — Indiana or Minnesota?

Indiana is cheaper overall by 8.2 cost-of-living points, but Indiana has lower median home values.

Sources: Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker.